'Left Via Alternative Route': Iran Leader Claims Talks With US Ended Abruptly Due To Security Threat

Last Updated:April 14, 2026, 09:45 IST

Mohammad Marandi, who was part of the delegation, said the negotiations were cut short under tense and unusual circumstances.

A member of Iran’s technical team for backchannel diplomacy has made sensational claims about the abrupt end of recent US–Iran talks in Islamabad, alleging security threats and a hurried exit by the Iranian delegation. Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Iranian academic Mohammad Marandi, who was part of the delegation, said the negotiations were cut short under tense and unusual circumstances. According to him, the talks — seen as part of a broader effort to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran — did not conclude in a planned or orderly manner.

Marandi claimed that the discussions were “very abruptly ended" by US Vice President JD Vance, raising questions about what transpired behind closed doors. “The timing was highly unusual," he said, suggesting that the sudden halt coincided with rising rhetoric in Washington.

Adding to the intrigue, Marandi pointed to a contemporaneous opinion piece in The Washington Post that reportedly called for a “final barrage of leadership strikes" targeting Iranian officials. While he did not directly link the article to official US policy, he implied that such narratives contributed to an atmosphere of heightened risk for the Iranian side.

“The delegation did not feel safe," Marandi said, alleging that credible security threats emerged during the course of the talks in Islamabad. He did not specify the nature or source of these threats but stressed that the situation was serious enough to warrant immediate contingency measures.

According to his account, the Iranian team was forced to alter its departure plans at short notice. “We had to leave via an alternative route and on a different aircraft," he revealed, underscoring the urgency of the exit. Such a move, if confirmed, would indicate significant concerns about the safety of the delegation while on Pakistani soil.

The claims, however, remain unverified, and there has been no official response from US or Pakistani authorities so far. Washington has also not publicly commented on the alleged role of US Vice President JD Vance in ending the talks.

News world 'Left Via Alternative Route': Iran Leader Claims Talks With US Ended Abruptly Due To Security Threat

Read More